Means for operating vapor electric lamps.



E. WEINTRAUB.

' MEANS FOR OPERATING V APOR ELECTRIC LAMPS. APPLICATION IIfLED DBO. 26, I902.

PATENTED JULY 28, 1908.

wwmzssas INVENTORI Ezechlel Weintraub, I by Atty - lamps may start independentlylof each other.

- invention are pointed out with particularity Schenectad county detail in the following description which is to be takeninconnection with, the accompany- "a main e msrrnn STATFSPATENT OFFICE.

nznon'nn;wnmrrnann: onscnENEoTAnY; NEW'YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A-CQRPORA'TION or NEW roan. I

-. MEANS FOR. QPERATINGVAPOR ELECTRIC'LAMPS.

No 894,766 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 28, 1908.

Application filed December 26, 19tl2. Serial 110436.552.

, Y 1 other suitableleading-in wire 3 with the ex- Be it known that LEZEQHIEL Wnrn'rR-AUB; trnal terminal 4 ofthe lamp. The other a subject of the Czar of Russia, residing at 1 main electrode of the lamp is formed by a of Schenectady, State 1 body of mercury 5 which fills a hollow defendof New Yor have invented certain new and c ing extensionfi of the tube 1 through the walls useful Improvements in Means "for Operating i which extension extends a platinum lead- Electric Vapor-Lamps, of which the following l, ing-in wire 7 constituting the other external is aspecification. i main terminal of the lamp. Adjacent to the My invention relates to the operation of 5 depending extension? is another downward electric lamps in which the current flows l extension 8 filled with a body of mercury 9 through the medium of a vapor such for eX- up to such'a level that the mercury bridges ample as the vapor of mercury,and comover the space between the two extensions prises certain improvements whereby a plu- 6 and 8'as indicated at It). Floating in this rality of lamps of this character maybe operbody of mercury 9 is a small closed glass tube ated in serieswith each other, either in a con} 11 closely; surrounding a rod 12 of iron or stant current circuit, or from a source of curother magnetic material constituting an arrent of constant potential. v mature or .core for a solenoid 13 which is ar- In carrying out my invention in practice I v ranged about an upwardiextcnsion 14 ofthc provide means whereby all of the lam s ma'y tube so as to surround the upper portion of e connected in circuit and where y the the core or armature. This core or armature slides within a guiding tube 15 ailixcd to the upper portion of the extension 14.

, A leading-in wire 'body of mercury J and terminal-of the solenoid To all whom it may concern:-

Fea'tures of novelty which c aract-erize my in the ap ended claims while e invention itself, boti as to the arrangement of apparatusand mode of operation, is set forth in is connected to one '13, the other termiof contacts 17 and 18, the latter being-coning'drawings which re resentone of the vario'us embodiments which my invention may assume.

The t pe of lamp which I employ'is one in which t e starting of the lamp is secured by means of a supplementary. electrode between which and one of the main electrodes a'sr'nall arc is initiated thereby serving to start up the main discharge or are between the main "electrodes. Three lamps of, this type are shown in the ('lrawings but 'it is to be under-j thereof is necessary. stood that any number of lam s may be operare connected with ated, limited only number the power of 1 lamp 1 by means of connections extending in the supply circuit. In the drawings the the case of the lamp 1 from the main eleclamps shown are duplicates ofeaeh other so' trode 7 which in this case is a cathode, to one that it will be necessary only to' describe one 'termin'alj of the lamps in detail. 'fiportion of thecut-out for the lamp22, the

The lamp shown at the to consists of a tube 1 of inde nite length, th s the positive electrode or anode 25 of the tube being arranged in a slightly inclined po- :Ilamp '22. In a similar manner sition, though the particular position chosen "or cathode 26 of the lamp 22 is connected to is not im ortant. At one'end of the tubeflis the solenoid 27 of the remaining lamp 23, the ectrode 2 formed of soft steel, arti- "other terminal of the solenoid being conficial graphite, or other suitable material, or nected to the positive terminal 28 of the the electrode may be of mercury, and this lamp-.23. The cathode terminal 29 of this electrode-is connected through a platinum or i lamp'is connected to a switch 30 by opening drawings are that already no detailed description These lamps 22 and 23 each other and to the nal ofwhich is connected to the lirst of a pair" of the drawings llother end of this solenoid being connected to,

16 makes contact. with a nected to one of the leads of the supply cir- 5 supply lead but indi of the solenoid 24 constituting a the negative starting solenoid 13, and the resistance 35, to.

same manner as through the lamp 1, the cirment of the tube 1]. surrounding the so enoid lamp is brought into normal operation, cur-.

or closing which c'urrent may be supplied sity for the resistances no longer exists and from the mains 31 or interrupted as deslred.

.they may be omitted. do not claim in this application the indidrawings indicates the condition of affairs vidual lam or vapor electric device, but

What ,I dh claim as new and desire to secure cuit be closed current flows from the mains by Letters Patent of the United States, is,- down through the by-pass'or starting circuit 1. including the cut-out contacts 17, 18, the

electric lamps, connections interlinking said lamps in series witheach other, means for impressing upon the lamp circuit an electhe body of mercury in the lamp and out tromotive force of a value sufficient to from the main terminal 7 to the contacts 32 maintatin the lampsin normal operation, of the, cut-out magnet 24 of the next lamp a temporary starting circuit in' shunt to Current then flows to the startlng solen each lamp, and means responsive to the 01d 33 and soon through the lamp in the starting of each lamp for cutting out the corresponding starting circuit.

2. The combination of a plurality of vapor electric lamps, connections interlinking said lamps in series with each other, means for impressing upon the lamp circuit an electromotive force of a value sufficient to maintain the lamps in normal operation, a temporary starting circuit in shunt to each lamp, and electro-magnetic means 'respon supplementary terminal 16 and then through cuit being continued through the lamp 23 in the same manner as through the preceding lamp. The effect of the'resulting flow of drawing up such as 12 in lamp 1. As the armature in each lamp is drawn up, the level of the mercury 9 falls due to the decreased dis laceout the corresponding starting circuit. core. The body of mercury 10 which forms 3. The combination of a plurality of vapor the connecting link between the bodies of electric lamps, connections interlinking said mercury 5 and 9 then separates thereby inlampsin series with each other, a resistance terrupting the circuit so as to form an arc or in shunt to .each lamp, and a cut-out responelectric discharge. The ionized mercury vasive to flow of current in the lamp for interpor "set free by this discharge operates by rupting the circuit of said resistance. reason of the migration of its ions to set up he combination of a series of vapor an electric discharge between the main terelectric lamps, a constant potential source of minals 2 and. 5 of the lamp whereupon the current supply therefor, a resistance in shunt to each lamp, a cut-out having its contacts in the circuit of the resistance and its energizing coil in circuit with the lamp, and current limrent flowing through the solenoid 19 of the cut-out to the main terminal 4 of'the lamp.

he cut-out then .operates to disconnect the starting solenoid 13 from the circuit thereby interrupting the flow of current through the side branch formed by the su plemental elec. trode 9 cooperating with the ody of mercury 5 forming one of the main electrodes of the lamp. In the same manner as soon as current is started in the side branches of the other lamps in circuit thereby starting these lamps into operation, the cut-outs corresponding thereto operate to interrupt the supplemental circuit of said lamps.

5. The combination of a plurality of vapor electric lam s, connections-interlinking the. electrodes o" the lamps in series with each other, a resistance in shunt to each lamp, means for causing current to ilow between said electrodes, and means responsive to said current for interrupting the circuit of said resistance. a

.6. The combination of a plurality of vapor arcs produced 111 the side electric devices, connections interlinking said devices in series with each other, a starting circuit'in shunt to each of said device's, means controlled by said starting circuit for initiating a flow of current between the working electrodes of said lamp, and means responsive cated convcntionallyby the constant potento said current for ('lencrgizing the starting tial mains 31. Under these circumstances a circuit.

resistaure is inserted 'in the main circuit at 34 7. The combination of a source of constant in order to limit the current to a given value I potential current, a circuit in shunt to said and to make the arcs more stable. In addi- I source including vapor electric devices in tion, resistances 3536 and 5-17 are connected series, means for simultaneously producing in the side branches of the respective lamps i an auxiliary starting arc or discharge in each as indicated to prevent excessive How 0 curdevice, and means responsive to the starting,

rent. I When the lamps are supplied from a l of said device for interruptingthe auxiliary source of current of coiistant value the. neces- 1 or starting-arc.

he combination of a plurality of vapor si've to the starting of each lamp for cutting lting means permanently in series with the with each other; a circuit "cont 15 electric devices, connections vintei'linking said devices in series with each other qa'by-g Fess circuit about each of said dev1ccs, means' or interrupti starts, and a dev ce having resistance per manently in series with-saldzva dev1ces r 9; The combination of a gal ity o f apjor electric devices, a device amngiresistance connected permanently in "series therewith,- m I ces in series comiections interlinking said de'vi ainlng resistance in shuntvv to each: of said' devices, and

means for opening the shunt 'c' cuits clonectric taining resistance when the corresponding vapor electric devices start.

10. The combination of constant poteng g I ,tial mains, 'a circuit in shunt tosaid mains each of said; circu ts when; w the correspon mg vapor electric dev'lce' including vapor electric devices in series, a startmg c1rcu1t for each of said devlces, and

a cut-out for each starting circuit, the contacts of the cut-out being located in the starting circuit and the energizing coi1s in the circuit voi corresponding vapor: electric devices.

"In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day.0f'December, 1902; w EZEOHIEL WEINTRA'UB- "Witnesses BENJAMIN B. HULL, HELEN ORFORD, 

